searched by three Police officers while in custody at Hamilton Police Station.

Toshmaal Tucker, from Friswell's Hill, needed four stitches to an eye wound after the alleged assault, which happened on Thursday evening. He also had X-rays taken of a suspected broken wrist.

Mr. Tucker, who works for the Subby construction firm, claims his terrifying two-hour ordeal began when he was sitting on a wall on St. Monica's Road, Pembroke, with friends at about 5.30 p.m. on Thursday.

A Police van pulled up and four officers approached the teenager, demanding to search him under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Mr. Tucker claims he willingly agreed to be searched but asked that the officers first show him their hands, as he was worried they might plant incriminating evidence on him.

It was then that the officers handcuffed him, bundled him into the van and sped off.

"They said `put your hands behind your back' and then handcuffed me,'' Mr.

Tucker said.

"They were manhandling me. We drove to the Police Station but we went the long way around and all the time they were punching me. The handcuffs were really tight -- I thought I'd broken my wrist.

"When we got to the Police Station they took my licence and everything off me and put me in an interview room.

"There was three officers who told me to sit down and then told me to stand up again. As soon as I did they rushed forward and started kicking and punching me -- I just had to curl up into a ball to protect myself.

"They were saying things like `how does it feel now, you haven't got so much mouth now have you, we're teaching you a lesson'.

"They then said they were going to strip search me -- I had to take off all my clothes. Then they just wiped up all the blood and said they were charging me with resisting arrest and obstructing a Police officer.

"It was totally brutal. I didn't feel any pain, I was numb and my mind wasn't there but I didn't want to say anything as that would make matters worse.'' Before being released Mr. Tucker lodged a formal complaint with the duty sergeant at Hamilton Police Station. He then went straight to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's accident and emergency department, where he was met by his mother and aunt, a former reserve constable.

Mr. Tucker is now at home recovering from his injuries, which include a cut and swollen eye and bruising to his wrist and body. He is also considering hiring an attorney to take legal action against the Service.

A Police spokeswoman would not give any details about the incident other than to say it was now being investigated.

"An official complaint has been lodged and as such we can't discuss it because it's now subject to an internal Police investigation,'' the spokeswoman said.

"We can confirm that we have received a complaint and it will also go to the Police Complaints Authority as well as our own complaints and disciplinary department.'' Stitched up : Toshmaal Tucker needed hospital treatment after his encounter with the Police.